We provide horseback riding & related activities for families of children or adults with disabilities
03/31/2025
Welcome the newest inductee into the RideAbility Hall of Fame
Kathy Thomas
Kathy has been a very long time and very reliable volunteer
Pre-2007
Kathy has many qualities that make her an exceptional horse leader and sidewalk
She uses her medical experience to connect and care for her students
She is able to assess the student’s needs and successfully communicate with both the student and the other volunteers to make every lesson a fun and enjoyable experience
She has a great sense of humor and an exceptional amount of patience
Every class has laughter and smiles, even when we all just want to scream and cry
Although one of the most experienced volunteers, Kathy never assumes to know everything and always ask Jim, Jeanie or the instructors to clarify any questions she has. That is a great trait in a volunteer!
Kathy is an RN at Mayo and has been able to create a schedule that allows her to:
--Volunteer every Tuesday night
--Unless of course she is on an exotic vacation
--Participate in special day-time therapy sessions
---Both private lessons and school groups
Kathy has participated in every RideAbility event (except maybe parades, smart lady!)
-PonyUp
-Red, White, Blue Day
-Barn Dances
-Student Horse Shows
-Olmsted County Fair
-RideAthons
Kathy has used her knowledge to create the contents of our human First Aid box; she checks and restocks the box every year
Kathy has used her connections in the community to the betterment of RideAbility
Kathy found RAVA (Rochester Area Volunteer Administrators)
This is an organization that helps non-profits with outreach and volunteer recruitment
Kathy was able to bring us a fundraiser with Gillette-Pepsi which resulted in a windfall of $5000
Through Kathy’s PR at Mayo, we received $1500 from the Nurse’s association annual rummage sale
Kathy has brought many new volunteers to RideAbility, most notable her daughter’s daughter, Harley, who has been coming to the barn for years and recently started side walking.
A former volunteer who was moving but wanted her horse to stay with RideAbility approached Kathy asking if she was interested in buying Travis. Kathy bought Travis and kept him with RideAbility. It was that special horse/human connection that we only experience once in our horse-loving lives. Kathy and Travis had a perfect energy match….calm, upbeat, patient, caregiving. They worked together to keep their rider safe, secure and happy.
Kathy took the time to learn how to care for Travis.
Travis lived to 31 years old and his final day it was 15 below zero. Kathy spent Travis’s last moments with him, comforting him as he crossed the rainbow bridge.
Jeanie is truly grateful to Kathy for all she has done with and for Travis.
